2 men charged with illegally possessing deer, maintaining meth lab in St. Joseph County

CONSTANTINE TOWNSHIP, MI — Two St. Joseph County men are in police custody Monday evening after being arrested for multiple methamphetamine and gun-related charges in addition to an accusation that they were in illegal possession of a captive deer.

Officers from St. Joseph County Area Narcotics investigated the men's home in the 62000 block of Brick Chapel Road in Constantine Township after receiving information that methamphetamine was being produce at the residence, according to a press release issued by the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office.

The information came as a result of an investigation conducted on March 28 when officers were called to a meth dump site where Mill Creek crosses Brick Chapel Road, investigators said. During that search, officers observed multiple items used in the process of manufacturing meth as well as conservation law violations at a nearby residence, which led to a search of the home in question Monday.

Once inside, investigators said they discovered several one-pot meth lab, firearms and an illegally captive deer.

Although police did not provide further information on the deer, Michigan law states a person must apply for a permit to hold wildlife in captivity and the permit will only be granted if the animal was born in captivity. Possession of animals taken from the wild is strictly illegal except for licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

The men, whose names are being withheld pending arraignment, are facing charges of operating/maintaining a methamphetamine lab, possession of methamphetamine, felony firearm possession, maintaining a drug house and possession of an illegal deer.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact St. Joseph County Area Narcotics at 269-467-9045 ext. 245.

Alex Mitchell covers county government and taxes for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email him at amitche5@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter.